Salinas looks to boost road safety with Measure X

UPDATE 1/5/2018 5:25 p.m.: We’re getting a better idea of how the city of Salinas wants to use its portion of Measure X funding.

Measure X, which was approved by voters in November 2016, is a 3/8 of a percent sales tax increase. The money, expected to bring in millions every year, is dedicated to road safety improvements.

Salinas is expected to get $3.5 million annually, but Public Works wants to get more money faster, and will take its case to the city council on Tuesday.

“So the fact that this is a sales tax measure, it has a 30-year life allows us to go to the bank and take out a mortgage, to take out a loan,” explained Don Reynolds, assistant director for Salinas Public Works. “So actually we’ll be borrowing about $37.5 million and some of that has to go to pay for the bank and the fees and so forth and we’ll pay it back over this long period of time.”

One of the projects the money will go toward is the Boronda Road expansion project. Five roundabouts will be built between Independence and McKinnon, as well as another lane in each direction.

Roxanne Rossiter describes the intersection of East Boronda and Natividad Roads as dangerous, where drivers aren’t paying attention to the lights and there are a lot of problems for pedestrians. She welcomed any improvements.

“I think if we add another lane, it might just show that the city is cooperating with the people who are driving here, especially with the roundabouts and there might be less congestion on the roads maybe,” Rossiter said.

Another safety improvement project is the Bardin Road Safe Routes to School. It’s currently under design right now and should be shovel-ready in June. Additions include two new roundabouts.

“It’s never been improved so it’s an old ag road in front of a nice school and we gotta fix this right away,” Reynolds said.

The Laurel Road Extension will feature a pedestrian walkway between Natividad Center and St. Edwards near Laurel Heights.

“This is critical because right now, they’re having to go down to the gully, out into the curb, out into the street where people are driving 45-50 miles an hour,” Reynolds said.

The plan also calls for six new stop lights and ADA-compliant upgrades to sidewalks and curbs. Public Works also plans to use some Measure X funds, along with SB 1 money to map out streets in Salinas that are in dire need for improvements, which includes taking care of pot holes.

ORIGINAL POST: Tuesday, Public Works will talk to Salinas City Council about how they can receive tax dollar money faster so improvement projects can get underway.

Measure X was the county wide three-eighths of one percent sales tax that voters ok’ed in November 2016. After months of planning, Salinas Public Works wants the rubber to meet the road and get the projects going.

The Boronda Road expansion is one of the projects in the works, with plans to put in four roundabouts between Independence and McKinnon, as well as another lane in each direction. Other projects include, pedestrian improvements along the Laurel extension between Saint Edwards and Natividad Medical Center and by Bardin Elementary School.

Measure X will give Salinas about $3.5 million a year. Public Works has another plan to get more money now then pay it back later.

“So the fact that this is a sales tax measure, it has a 30-year life allows us to go to the bank and take out a mortgage, to take out a loan. So actually we’ll be borrowing about $37.5 m and some of that has to go to pay for the bank and the fees and so forth and we’ll pay it back over this long period of time,” said Assistant Public Works director, Don Reynolds.

Other Measure X projects includes adding up to six new traffic signals including one at Cherokee and Main Street.

KION’s Mariana Hicks has the full story at 6 p.m.